clifton



a. H. CLIFTON. TlMiNG DEVICE.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT. 23. 1919- 1,356,968. Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

. UNITED STATES BAY H. on

PATENT OFFICE.

F'ION, OF EAST PERU, IOW'A, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF. IOWA.

TIMING DEVICE.

T c all whomz't may concern:

Be itknown that I RAY H. Umr'roN, a citizen of the United states, and a resident of'Eas't Peru, in the'county of Madison and State of'Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Timing Device, of which the followin "is a specification.

Theo ject of my invention is to provide a timing device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

i More particularly it is my object to provide a timingdevice adapted to 'be used in cdinbination withan ignition system of an automobile for making and breaking a circuit' of electrical current.

. Still a further object is to provide a timing device comprising a casin an eccentric member within said casing esigned to be operated from the cam shaft of the automobile, a plurality 'of contact points within the casin so designed that when the ocean tric mem or is rotated the contact points will be consecutively forced against contacts mounted on the outside of the casing for making a circuit. I

A further object is to provide a timing device comprising a casing, an eccentric member rotatably'mo'unted within the easing, and means for making and breaking a circuit of electrical current.

Still a further object is to provide :1. timer comprising a casing having siidahle contact points yieldingly held out of operative position, an eccentric member rota tably mounted in said casing and so de signed that the peri hery of said eccentric member is always he (1 against the inner end of said slidable points, whereby rotation of said eccentric member will force each of said contact points outwardly until they engage resilient contact strips which are mounted on the outside of said casing.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawin' s, in which:

igure -1 shows a front view of my timing device a portion thereof being shown in section to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view taken on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

Serial No. 325,773.

the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the device as applied on the en ine front.

Fig. 3 shows a si e elevation of the closure member for my timin device.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarge detail, sectional view of 'one'of the contact points in its bperative position. i

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of my do vice; and

Fig. 6 shows a detail view of the binding post.

Irrthe accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally a casing preferably made of insulating or non-conducting material.

The casing 10 is provided with an en lnrged central opening 11. The casing 10 is provided with a. recess 12 which is adapted to he received in a registering opening in the engine front 13.

The cam shaft of the automible engine extends into the casing 10. The casing 10 is provided with a plurality of spaced open-- ings 15. A cover member 16 is designed to he received over the forwardside of the easing. The cover is provided with a'plurality of pins or lugs 17 which are designed to register with the openings 15 in the casing 10. The pins 17 provide means forholding the closure member over the casing.

Slidably mounted within the casing 10 are the contact points 18. The contact points 18 are received within the sleeve 19 having a. flange 20 thereon.

The casing 10 is provided with an enlarged opening 21 on its inner side. T

The contact point '18 has a head 22 there on having a contracted portion therein23.

A spring 24 is mounted over the'sleeve 19 and received within the opening 21 inthe casing. The spring rests'againstthe flange 20 on one end and the head 22011 the other end. The spring forms'a means for hold ing the contact points out of operative position.

Formed within the casing 10 is a screwthreaded opening 25 which is adapted to receive the screw-threaded sleeve 26. .The screw-threaded sleeve is provided with a slot 27 near its lower end.

Received within the central openin of the screw-threaded sleeve 26 is a bin ing post 28 having a head 29 thereon.

The binding post 28 is screw-threaded so that the nut 30 may be placed thereon. When the nut 30 is screwed down tight, then tlie h ead 29 of the binding post 28 will become drawn into the central opening, causing the slot to slightly spread. It will be seen that this will cause the screw-threaded sleeve to become firmly wedged in the screw-threaded opening 25.

Secured around the binding post is an electrical wire 31 which forms part of the ignition system of an automobile.

'When the binding post is placed in the insulated casing member the screw-threaded sleeve 26 is screwed into the screw-threaded openingnf thecasing.

qThe' sleeve 26 has the portionn32 thereon so that a wrench or pliers may' be used in installing the sleeve in the casing. Placed between the portion 32 of the sleeve26 and the casing 10 is'a resilient contact strip The end of the contact strip 33 is so ar' ranged that it fits over the opening of the sleeve-19 and'ab'ove the outer end of the rontact I'points 18.

Fixed to the cam shaft 14 is an eccentric member 34 which is held in place by the pin 35. The heads 22 of the contact points 18 set snugly against the periphery of the eccentric member 34.

A nut 36 on the cam shaft 14 holds the eccentric member in proper position.

' A disk 37 having an inwardly extending flange 38 thereon is fixed to'thc eccentric member. The flange is placed equidistant from the periphery of the eccentric member and is received within the contracted por tion 23 of the head 22 of the contact points 18.

, It will be seen that rotation of the cam shaft 14 will rotate the eccentric member thereby forcing the contact points '18 outwardly until they engage thecontact-strips 83 and form a circuit. As the eccentric member is continuously rotated the contact pointsengage the contact strips consecutively thus causing a circuit to becompleted when the contact point strikes the contact strip Itwill be seen that the spring 24 will tend: to normally hold the contact point 18 out'of engagement with the resilient contact-strip 33. In order tobe sure that the cbntu'chpoint will disengage the contact strip afterthe making of each circuit, the flange 28 is provided so that if the spring 24 fails to withdraw the contact point, then the flange-will draw the point out of enga ement.

n ,the modified form of my device shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, 10 indicates the casing. Screw-three ded into the casing is a sleeve 39 which has the spring 24 around it.

The same kind of acontact point 18 is pro: J vided in'themodified" form f'the deviceasiiitively causeeseh .oiE; sa1d. -ontact points to in the preferred form.

It will be seen that the casing 10 of the modified form is of conducting material so that it is necessaryto completely insulate the binding post. In order to do this I have provided a socket or casing 4-0 which is-designed to be forced into the casing 10.

Within the socket 40 is placed the insulated material 41. Fixed in thefinsulated material 41 is the same binding post as I use in the preferred form of my device.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a timing device with parts so arranged that it is impossible for them to become affected by'wear and tear to suchan extent that the device will be inoperative. f:

By using the eccentricdmemberss amedium for forcing. the contact pointsoutwardly until they en age the contact strips I get what I calla orcedcoritact. Where springs are =nsed to obtain the contact, ordinary wean and usage make the springs loose their tension, so that the device does not operate in a satisfactory manner, but with my device I have a positive means for both forcing the contacts into engagement and for withdravvin' g them from engagement It will be understood that some changes may .be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device with.- out departing from the essential, features and purposes of my device, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. In a device of the class descrilred, a cas ing of noinconducting material having a plurality of sleeves mounted therein, ,eontact point-s slidubly mounted in said sleeves, resilient contact strips mounted on said casing and adapted to extend over. said sleeves and to be spaced therefrom, means for yielrb ingly holding said contact oints out -of.,engagement with said contact. strips, an eccentric member iotatably mounted in said casing. adaptedduring itsrotation to conseem tivelvrause each of said contact points to engage said contact strips for making a circuit.

-2. 111 Av device of the class described, :2: casinp of non-conducting material having plurality (if-sleeves mounted. therein, contact points slidably mounted in said sleeves.

contact strips mounted on said casing and adapted to extend over said sleeves and to he s accd therefrom, means for yieldingly holding said contact pointsout of engagement with said contact strips, an eccentric member rotatably mounted in said casing adapted during its rotation to consecuresilient engage said contact strips for making u circuit, and means for withdrawing said contact points from engagement with said contact strips. 7 V V 3. In a device of the class described, a casing of non-conducting material having a plurality of sleeves niountedtherein, contact points slid-ably mounted in said sleeves, resilient contact strips mounted on said casing and adapted to extend over said sleeves and to be spaced therefrom, means for yieldingly holding said contact points out of engagement with said contact strips, an eccentric member rotatably mounted in said casing adapted during its rotation to consecutively cause each of said contact points to engage said contact strips for making a circuit, a head formed on the inner end of said contact points, an eccentric member rotatably mounted in said casing, a fixed annular band spaced equidistant from the periphery of said eccentric member. and adapted to rotate with said eccentric member, a portion of said head adapted to be received between the under side of said band and the periphery of said eccentric member, whereby rotation of said eccentric member will consecutively force said contact points outwardly until they engage said contact strips, and said band will consecutively withdraw said contact points after the making of each circuit.

4. In a device of the class described, a. cas ing of non-conducting material having a plurality of sleeves mounted therein, contact points slidably mounted in said sleeves. resilient contact strips mounted on said casing and adapted to extend over said sleeves and to be spaced therefrom, means for yield ingly holding said contact points out of engagement with said contact strips. an eccentric member rotatably mounted in said casing, adapted during its rotation to consecutively cause each 0t said contact points to engage said contact strips for making a circuit. a head formed on the inner end of said contact points, an eccentric member rotatably mounted in said casing. a fixed annular hand spaced equidistant from the periphery of said eccentric member and adapted to rotate with said eccentric member, a portion of said head adapted to be received between. the under side of said band and the periphery ot said eccentric member, whereby rotation of said eccentric member will consecutivelv force said contact points outwardly until they engage said contact strips. means for limiting the outward movement of said contact points. and means for returning said contact points to position out of engagement with said contact strips.

5. In a. device of the class described, a casing. a shaft operatively connected with suitable means for rotation, a plurality of sleeves mounted in said casing. contact points having heads thereon, slidably mounted in said sleeves, a. contracted portion formed in said hea'ds, springs mounted over said sleeves and adapted to yieldingly hold saidcontact points in one limit of their movement, insulated binding posts mounted upon said casing, resilient contact strips on said binding posts said strips being designed to rest over'said sleeves and to be spaced slightly therefrom, an eccentric member fixed to said shaft. an annular band spaced equidistant from the periphery of said eccentric member, fixed to said eccentric member, said band being designedto be received'in said contracted portion of said heads, whereby rotation of said shaft will rotate said eccentric member and said band, thereby causing said contact points to consecutively en age and disengage said contact strips to make and break a circuit.

6. In a device of the class described, a casing having a plurality of sleeves mounted therein, contact points slidably mounted in said sleeves, resilient contact strips mounted on said casing and adapted to extend over said sleeves and to be spaced therefrom, means for yieldingly holding said contact points out of engagement with said contact strips, an eccentric member rotatably mounted in said casing, adapted during its rotation to consecutively cause each of said contact points to engage said contact strips for making a circuit.

7. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with contact points slidably mounted therein, resilient contact strips mounted on said casing and adapted to extend over said contact points and to be spaced therefrom, means for yieldingly holding said contact points out of engagement with said contact strips, an eccentric member rotatably mounted in said casing, adapted during its rotation to consecutively cause each of said contact points to engage said contact strips for making a. circuit.

8, Tn a device of the class described adapted for use with an ignition system for making and breaking a circuit. a casing having contact strips mounted thereon, contact points slidably mounted in said casing, means for yieldingly holding said contact points out of engagement with said contact strips. and for retracting the conta t points after they have engaged with the contact strips. and means for causing said contact points to consecutively engage said contact strips for making a circuit.

9. Tu a device of the class des ribed, a casing of non-conducting material having a plurality of sleeves mounted therein, contact points slidably mounted in said sleeves. resilient contact strips mounted on said casing and adapted to extend over said sleeves and to .be spaced therefrom. means for yieldingly holding said contact points out of engagement with said contact strips,

said last means also serving to with ra the contact points, after they have engaged the contact strips, an eccentric member r0 tetably mounted in said cesingedapted during its rotatien to consecutively cause each of said contact points to engage said cantect strips for maki a circuit, and means for withdrawin sai contact points from engagement Wit said contact strips.

It]. In :1 device of the (219.3 described, a casing having a. plurality of sleeves fixed therein, contact points shdebly mounted in said sleeves, Contact strips spaced adjacent wee it o e end of Said sleeves, means for yieldingly holding said contact points out of engagement with said contact strips, said last means also acting to retract the contact Bflillts after they have engaged the contact strips, :1 member rotatably mounted in said casing adapted during its rotation to consecut vely cause a contact to be made and then broken between the various contact points and contact strips.

Des Moines, lowc, September 5, 1919.

RAY H. CLIFTON. 

